Zoetropes In The Snow (Open)

[Elijah-Thomas Burke]

A piece of cake? He would certainly not declare flying outside in the current weather a piece of cake. In fact if had seen anyone else do such in a the same fashion he just had he would have probably laughed at their failure. Trying was of course impressive enough to be counted as foolish bravery, though foolish bravery was no exemption to his ridiculing those he thought were stupid.

Antigone was not going to make the same mistakes as him which was wise.

If he was in Antigone's spot he would not have even considered attempting to go outside. Though Antigone, like most at Hogwarts, had a far more bravery than he ever could hope to have. Of course he remained standing in his spot as a quick inspection had his outfit while soaked properly situated. His collar was perfectly in place and his pants were not scrunched in a way that would cause wrinkles to form.

Elijah-Thomas said " Dancing always works for upstaging me for I lack your grace. " Figuring as a gentleman he should offer her an easier, and more safe, way of upstaging him. Plus if anything happened to her he would certainly be at fault. So he had to definitely ensure that if she did try this she would be safe. This was one of those challenging situations to be a gentleman. Etiquette dictated that he respect Antigone's bravery and let her try. Yet at the same time her failure would be his scandal alone as he would have to make an excuse that placed the blame away from Antigone's bravery.

Such decisions were not his strengths.

He said " It is a good broom. One of the best actually so it turns quickly on command, though in the wind it seemed to want to drift towards the left. " Then he noticed her glancing towards the corridor and said " If anyone comes I'll make it clear they are not welcome. I can be quite the bully. "

  

[Antigone Lestrange]

The key to good eavesdropping is not getting caught

The mentioning of dancing brought a hint of color to her cheeks for she had instantly put more stock into it than had perhaps been intended. What could he have meant by it? She was wondering if it was an invite of sorts, if he was making some sort of proposition for he could not expect her to dance without music and by herself. If with a partner, the lack of music could be easier forgiven. "Oh but Monsieur Burke, I could not dance alone... And without the accompaniment of music in the middle of the corridor! It should be quite frightfully improper and indecent of me!" She raised a hand to mouth to try and (poorly) conceal the smirk and the fact that she giggled slightly.

Antigone would have been more than satisfied with the replacement of flying the broom for an invite to dance - even if she declined - for were she to stop and think about it, she honestly did not like the look of the weather and was not sure she really wanted to brave it.

Tig was honored that he trusted her with his broom and she fully intended to return it to him in pristine condition. From where she was perched on the window, she reached for the broom, handling it carefully as she did. Although she knew very little about broomsticks, she could appreciate that his was indeed a good model. It did not have the rougher look that the school brooms did. Resting a hand on the wall for support, she prepared to climb out the window. "Wish me luck then!"

Tag: Elijah Words: 268

created by kay of caution and sds

  

[Elijah-Thomas Burke]

When he had made the suggestion of dancing it was more an idea of how she could upstage him in the future and let his upstaging slide. Though now that she mentioned doing it now dancing in the hallway to the wind blowing outside could be entertaining. However she was right it could probably be construed as indecent.

Though he was rather certain in the back of his mind if she got as soaked as him it would potentially be even more indecent. It was also rather unfortunate as he looked at her still dry he could not bring himself to remember a drying charm. Probably he correctly assumed that it was one of those thing a house elf could deal with and not worth him learning.

He just smirked when she covered her mouth saying nothing.

If he were a better person he probably would have tried to find words to stop her. However he simply was not a better person and was far to curious if she could fare better than he did in the circumstances. He said " I wish the best of luck unto you. " Then he moved closer to the window and said " I'd suggest starting against the wind. " Figuring she would just be blown back anyways.

  

[Antigone Lestrange]

The key to good eavesdropping is not getting caught

Looking out at the snowy scene before her, the wind suddenly hitting her face harshly, she felt a pang of regret. She couldn't back out now though - she wouldn't be called a coward by anyone. Mounting the broom almost tentatively, she narrowed her eyes against the wind and pushed off from the window ledge. Unlike Elijah, she didn't have the advantage of a bulkier, heavier build and nor did she have the experience with flying as he did. She knew how to fly but she had never learned more than that and had certainly never played quidditch.

Determined nonetheless, she clung to the broom tightly and did her best to steer it though found it met with considerable resistance. It occurred to her that he had certainly made it look easier than it was. "Ce vent est impossible!**" she complained loudly, an obvious feeling of frustration backing her words. For now she could remain more or less stationary as she was partially sheltered from the wind by the building but she felt determined to make a full circle before returning.

Glancing over her shoulder to see if he was watching, she almost lost her balance, the broom tilting dangerously to one side before she realized what it was doing and correcting herself. Once steadied, she urged it forward, the shelter from the building then being lost and a buffeting wind hitting her from the side and making steering even more challenging. She fought against it as best she could but to little avail. All of a sudden there came an extra strong gust that managed to unseat her and leave her dangling in mid-air, a shrill scream of surprise and terror involuntarily bursting forth from her mouth. Her hands were damp now as it was from both sweat and the moisture in the air and snow. Antigone looked down at her feet dangling and then in extension, the ground which seemed dreadfully far away.

Trying not to panic, she looked back up again and attempted to pull herself back up but with little success. Stealing a last glace back at the window, she took the deepest breath her corset would allow her and managed this time to pull herself high enough to hook her leg back over. Before she could make much of the triumphant feeling that she had just overcome, she immediately made for the window once again, her hair sopping wet and her nerve gone completely. She all but collapsed through the window, using the wall as support as soon as her feet made connection with the floor. "I think... I think you win..." she gasped as she tried to catch her breath, it was a rare moment when she conceded defeat.

**This wind is impossible!

Tag: Elijah Words: 452

created by kay of caution and sds

  

[Elijah-Thomas Burke]

Elijah-Thomas could not hold in the chuckle that had been threatening to come out for a while. Thankfully he was rather certain in the wind itself that Antigone could not hear his chuckle at her expense. The wind was truly impossible. Though at least he had learned enough to spare her from the snow turning into ice pellets. The amount of French he knew was rather small compared to what it should have been. His father thought French was one of the languages of sophistication, and as such had him tutored in it as a boy.

Unfortunately he thought French was the language of forgotten letters.

With a smile he responded loudly " Volez contre le vent.** " praying he was not butchering the language he only seemed to review over the summers now he was at Hogwarts. A language that when he visited France with his mother last year he did not even admit to speaking as his accent was horrible. Words he could remember but the accent was almost beyond him due to lack of caring. However perhaps he might decide to care for a bit as Antigone spoke it, and improving could likely impress her. Plus it might please his father which after all the disappointments he has caused probably would help things.

He watched as she moved and winced as he almost fell. Before that slight tilt that looked like it could have potentially lead to a slip he was certain no harm would come of this. Now he was not so sure. Especially when she actually fell and he pointed his wand towards her and shouted " Wingardium Leviosa. " pausing only a bit before shouting "Wingardium Leviosa. Wingardium Leviosa. Wingardium Leviosa. "

The only thing that happened was that it lifted some of the snow in the air not quite reaching her. The snow was so dense it blocked his shot.

Thankfully she made it back through the window. He tossed decency to the side as he moved towards her and pulled her into a hug. Then he said " You did a wicked good job. " Complementing her as he felt just how cold she was. Hopefully his body heat would help as she was likely chilled beyond a warming charm being able to help without hurting her.

** Fly against the wind

  

[Antigone Lestrange]

The key to good eavesdropping is not getting caught

Antigone was rather amused by the English and their favor of the French language, seeing it as fashionable to learn. Of course she adored listening to those who were of the more conceited sort who thought their French was impeccable for she could very easily pick up on the smallest of details to criticize with. She had instantly heard the flaws in Elijah's French and had she been inside with two feet on the ground would have happily teased him for it. Perhaps she still would.

Of all things she might have expected upon returning to the castle, it had certainly not been a hug. Under normal circumstances, she might have been inclined to fight herself free and express a certain amount of irritation and disgust at such presumptuous behavior but she couldn't quite help but stay perfectly still, capturing the memory in her mind to think on at a later date.

Tig had expected him to tease her about her inability to stay on the broom but was yet again surprised when he complimented her. "Ah but I did not stay on the broom as you did," she pointed out, smirking a little to herself despite the fact that she had nearly fallen off a broomstick goodness knows how many feet in the air. She observed that she was almost soaked through to her skin, not quite but it was close. Antigone was certain it was only a matter of time before the dampness seeped through her corset. It suddenly occurred to her what someone would think were they to walk down the corridor and see the two Slytherins clad in considerably damp clothing in an embrace. She could just imagine the fuss that would start and as much as she loathed being gossiped about, she couldn't find it in her to reject the hug. There was a good chance it would never happen again and she wanted a nice, long memory of it. She shivered slightly before smirking to herself and deciding she would make mention of his French after all. "You are quite terrible at French, Monsieur Burke," she teased, chuckling slightly afterwards.

Tag: Elijah Words: 354

created by kay of caution and sds

  

[Elijah-Thomas Burke]

Of course it was expected that he would do leaps and bounds better than her. For one he was on the house quidditch team, and Antigone was a proper lady who in is observations flew rarely. Then there was the fact that he was larger thus naturally would be blown around less. Making the fact that she survived ever more impressive than the fact he had done the same. He said " You managed to pull yourself up. " Figuring he would mention an impressive feat as people did not often enjoy knowing how low there comparative standards were.

A fact he assumed he went double for a frozen soaked through girl he was hugging hoping his body heat would warm up.

He had to chuckle at the mention of his French. Something he was certain upset both of his parents even if his mother managed to easily ignore it. Mostly as she ensured it was not mentioned to his family in France that he had a single French lesson. Then there was his father who thought it was a language of sophistication. He said " Worry not. My mother has decreed her family is never to know that I have ever taken a lesson in it. " His French was more than pitiful beyond proper titles and small standard phrases. He continued " Which makes things rather awkward when we visit them, and I'm pretending I understand noting. "

He stepped back slightly hoping she would not shiver to much without his presence. As hugging her to long would create an awkward situation, even if he was certain he would enjoy it.

Looking at her he realized just how cold she was. He lightly suggested " I'd say we should go back to the common room but our combined entrance might raise some eyebrows. " Since with them both being soaked it would easy to assume they had gotten that way together. Though he was slightly unsure if he could just let her walk around in a wet dress that was framing her body in a rather complementary manner. He said " Would you like my jacket ? " taking it off and offering it to her.

  

[Antigone Lestrange]

The key to good eavesdropping is not getting caught

"If you ever wished to learn..." she suggested, smiling coyly and not finishing her sentence for she felt it was pretty obvious without her clarifying further. A part of her wished he hadn't reasserted the distance between them but she also didn't want to be caught and given detention or written about in the Daily Prophet.

Without the heat she hadn't realized had been mostly him, she could feel the coldness nipping at her and the icy damp fabric sticking to her. It was a most uncomfortable feeling and she was quite sure both her sisters and her parents would be horrified to see her in such a state - that thought alone amusing her greatly.

The idea of returning to the Slytherin Common Room was enough to convince Antigone - she was quite eager to change into something dry. If only she knew the heating charm but she couldn't quite recall if that had been a lesson she had been paying little to no attention in or if it was something she had yet to be taught. "It may do, yes," she replied, an amused grin twitching at her lips. She looked at his jacket that he was offering to her, the grin fading to be replaced by something akin to surprise. A part of her wanted to be defiantly stubborn and say she didn't need it but realistically she was freezing cold and seeing as it was his... "Merci, how gentlemanly of you," she replied with a chuckle. Her smile had returned as she then reached out to accept the offer, draping it over her shoulders and immediately feeling glad she accepted. Not only did it make her feel less cold, but she was convinced it smelled like him.

Tag: Elijah Words: 289

created by kay of caution and sds

  

[Elijah-Thomas Burke]

For the first time in his life he was actually tempted to learn French. Somehow Antigone had a much better proposition than either of his parents. His mothers proposition was he would be able to communicate better with family in France. While pretending not to understand them he realized they were rather aloft and it would probably be best they did not converse to in-depth. Then there was his father's reason for him to learning the language which was pure Ministry driven ambition.

Though he was much to cold to comment on it now as he was certain Antigone would take any comment as either encouragement or a distraction from getting warm again. After all, if he were to blame for her getting to sick from the cold he was certain it would not be a good rest of break.

With slight regret she accepted the jacket. It was the proper thing to do but he would have much rather kept it for himself. Not that he was going to show that he was cold, let alone admit it. With a slight bow and a smile he demonstrated his gentlemanly nature in a manner mocking himself slightly. Looking outside again he said " It is truly crazy out there. " gaining a certain appreciation of it from the fact he was rather certain some of his hair gel might still be frozen. Continuing he said " Might be fun to dare some gryffindors into racing out there tomorrow. "

As he knew they had to work there way back to the common rooms, but he had little desire to actually do so.

  

[Antigone Lestrange]

The key to good eavesdropping is not getting caught

"Locking them out would be even better," she replied with more enthusiasm than was probably necessary. A sound from down the corridor distracted her and she looked in the direction of the sound sharply. Was someone walking that way? She certainly hoped not but she also had no desire to be reprimanded for whatever situation was assumed they had walked into. "As you said, we should probably make separate entrances..." she began, reluctant to be the one to end the time they were spending together.

"It would probably be better to return separately too... Who knows who's wandering around the corridors right now." Her smile had vanished for the most part and she carefully removed his jacket from her shoulders and held it out to him. "I'm not sure about you, but I don't fancy featuring in a Daily Prophet article any time soon. I prefer getting away with things than getting caught. Goodbye, Mr. Burke." She flashed him a quick smirk before turning on her heel and walking swiftly back in the direction that would eventually take her to the Slytherin common room.

Tag: Elijah Words: 183

created by kay of caution and sds

  

[Elijah-Thomas Burke]

Elijah-Thomas chuckled out loud when he heard her mention locking them out. It was probably something he would do to at least a couple of them before the break was out if the weather did not get any better. Actually he might go find someone to toss out now that he was leaving the lovely company of Antigone. It might be fun and would definitely require a certain amount of movement that would keep him warm.

As he needed to either figure out a way to dry off or stay warm until he did dry off.

He said " One never knows, people seem to pop out of corners all the time. " Leaving off the fact it was often him who wandered about and randomly surprised people. The castle had secret passageways and between the ones he found or heard about he knew of a good sized collection. He said " I'll probably use the passage way next to the gentleman in armor who has his shield upside down. " Or at least he was rather certain that gentleman's shield was upside down.

Then he smiled as she mentioned liking to get away with things and simply said " I agree. " and nodded as she walked off. He had little intention of saying goodbye as he would probably take a seat by her at dinner. However unlike her he stayed in his place and remained there for a long time before wandering the castle for a few hours before he reappeared in the dorms.